Pfälzer Alpine Hut

As the last day hikers head back down the mountain, life at the top of the Naaftal settles into a slower rhythm. At 2,108 meters on Bettlerjoch, families swap hiking boots for slippers at the Pfälzer Alpine Hut and settle in for the night. The stone hut sits right on the Austrian border, with Switzerland just a few kilometers away and the peaks of the Rätikon rising all around.

Families can hike up from Malbun via the Fürstin Gina Trail or through the Vaduzer Täli, then find a spot on the panoramic terrace or around a table in the dining room. Dinner is a vegetarian three-course menu made with regional ingredients, with plenty of time between courses for card games, stories from the trail and plans for the next day. After a night in a private room or dormitory, breakfast sets everyone up for another day on the trail, whether heading toward Naafkopf, Schesaplana or the Mannheimer Hütte via the Liechtensteiner Weg. Experienced climbing families with their own gear can also try the small climbing area above the hut, with routes graded 4 to 7.

Tip: In fall and winter, outside the staffed season, hikers can stay in the neighboring self-service Adlerhorst shelter. It has a wood-burning stove, cooking facilities and space for 21 people to sleep.